Resurgence of the Gorkhas
By Pinky Pradhan on 29 December, 2007 07:30:00
The once silent hills of Darjeeling, has grabbed the attention of the central Government and Indian Nepali diaspora. From being a sleepy tourist town, the towering hills are being ravaged by demands from two dissentious groups: the implementation of sixth schedule status vs. a separate statehood- ‘gorkhaland’.The angst however, is not limited within Darjeeling itself. Sizeable Indian Nepali populations from states like Delhi, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim and others are closely taking part in it. Questions like –‘can the tag of being honest feed us?’, ‘can tourism be a year long industry for feeding the people?’, ‘can sixth schedule remove all barriers?’ mirrors their anguish.“I was born in Assam and have my roots there, but this doesn’t stop me from supporting the demand for a long overdue ‘gorkhaland’ ”, says Dhiren Thapa, a college student presently studying in Delhi.Let us take a minute and question ourselves as to why the peace loving ethnic Nepalis/gurkhas are all of a sudden demanding a separate statehood? Is it just a passing fashion or an attempt by ambitious politicians to raise their profile and votes? Is it really about ‘statehood’?
By Pinky Pradhan on 29 December, 2007 07:30:00
The once silent hills of Darjeeling, has grabbed the attention of the central Government and Indian Nepali diaspora. From being a sleepy tourist town, the towering hills are being ravaged by demands from two dissentious groups: the implementation of sixth schedule status vs. a separate statehood- ‘gorkhaland’.The angst however, is not limited within Darjeeling itself. Sizeable Indian Nepali populations from states like Delhi, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim and others are closely taking part in it. Questions like –‘can the tag of being honest feed us?’, ‘can tourism be a year long industry for feeding the people?’, ‘can sixth schedule remove all barriers?’ mirrors their anguish.“I was born in Assam and have my roots there, but this doesn’t stop me from supporting the demand for a long overdue ‘gorkhaland’ ”, says Dhiren Thapa, a college student presently studying in Delhi.Let us take a minute and question ourselves as to why the peace loving ethnic Nepalis/gurkhas are all of a sudden demanding a separate statehood? Is it just a passing fashion or an attempt by ambitious politicians to raise their profile and votes? Is it really about ‘statehood’?
